The
Spanish
approach
to driving
has been
the butt
of jokes
for many
years and
probably
always
will be.
It is, in
general,
very
different
to that of
other
European
countries.
The system
for
learning
to drive
and testing is
also very
different,
and
strangely
enough,
appears to
be a lot
tougher
than many
other
countries.

Learning
to drive
in any
country is
an
expensive
business
and Spain
is no
exception.
The
average
price for
a one hour
lesson is
around 25€
an hour.
On top of
this you
will have
to shell
out for
your
theory
classes.
These can
cost
between
30-35€ a
month or a
one-off
fee of
about
300€.

Assuming
you have
undertaken
your
practical
and theory
training,
you will
then be
faced with
your exam
fee. In
England
you pay
each time
you take a
test. In
Spain, you
pay for
three goes
at a time,
but only
two per
type of
test.
Therefore
if you
don't pass
your
theory
until the
second
time, you
only have
one
attempt at
the
practical
and should
you fail
the theory
test
twice, you
have to
pay a
second fee
of about
161€.

Whatever
happens,
if you
fail you
will have
to wait
about
three
weeks
before
taking the
exam
again.
Unlike
England,
in Spain,
there are
no
provisional
licences
so before
you pass
your test,
the only
person you
can drive
with is
your
instructor.

The
highway
codes are
also very
different.
The
Spanish
version is
the most
in-depth
in Europe
and has
three
times as
many rules
as in
England.
There are
also
in-depth
sections
to be
studied on
first-aid,
vehicle
maintenance
and
vehicle
loads.

The
theory
exam
consists
of forty
multiple
choice
questions
and you
are
allowed
just
four
wrong
answers.
This is
similar
to that
in the
UK. It
is a
published
fact
that
most
people
sitting
the exam
in
Spain,
fail,
due to
mis-reading
or
failing
to
comprehend
the
lengthy
questions.
Practice
papers
and the
tests
are
available
in
several
languages.
In
Spain, the same
as
England,
you have
to pass
your
theory
before
you can
take the
practical
exam.

The
actual
practical
exam can
be
described
as a
strange
affair.
In Spain
it is a
group
excursion.
Your
instructor
sits in
the
passenger
seat and
the
examiner
sits in
the
back,
often
with
several
other
candidates.
After 20
minutes
the
candidates
will
swap
places
and
someone
else has
a go.
You will
then be
informed
of a
pass or
fail.

Once you
pass
your
test you
will be
awarded
a green
and
white
L-plate
to
display
in your
rear
window.
For one
year,
theoretically,
you are
not
allowed
to drive
faster
than
80kph
and for
two
years
you are
not
allowed
to drive
with an
alcohol
level of
more
than
0.3g (as
opposed
to the
normal
level of
0.5g).

UPDATE
ON
EU
DRIVING
LICENCE
LAWS

If you
have a
driving
licence
from
any
other
EU
country,
it is
automatically
valid
in
Spain.
All
other
countries
(including
the
USA),
can
drive
for
just 6
months
in one
calendar
year
but
must
then
obtain
a
Spanish
licence.
A
driving
school
will
handle
all
the
paperwork
for
you.
To
apply
for a
test
you will
need
to
present
a copy
of
your
residencia,
passport
photographs,
a
completed
application
form
and
the
fee of
160.95€
and a
medical
certificate
obtained
at an
official
medical
centre
(24€
fee).

Driving
Licences
for
residents
of
Spain

If
Resident
in
Spain
you
have
to
either
change
your
driving
licence
or put
an
inscription
on
your
EU
licence
at
your
nearest
'Jefatura
Provincial
de
Tráfico'
(in
Madrid
at
C/Arturo
Soria
143,
Tel:
913
018
500)

If you
are a
resident
by
means
of
working
i.e.
you
don't
hold a
residents
card,
but
are
paying
taxes
and
Social
Security
in
Spain
and
working
for
more
than
185
days
in
Spain
per
year,
you
have
to
either
change
or put
an
inscription
on
your
EU
Licence.

Spanish
Driving
Licence
-
Documents
needed:

Residents: Copy
of
residencia,
Driving
licence
(original),
2
photos
and a
signed
form
which
can
obtain
from
police
station.
If it
is
being
renewed
at the
same
time -
an eye
test
from a
doctor. Working
resident
documents
needed: All of
the
above
but
instead
of
copy
of
residencia,
the
following:
copy
of
passport,
copy
of NIE
certificate,
copy
of
contract
(minimum
of 6
months),
if
self
employed
proof
of
Social
Security
payments,
justification
of
address
(cert
Empadronamiento
/
proof
of
residence
of
min. 6
months).

In
both
cases
a
justificate
(copy
documentation)
will
be
given
to the
client,
which
is
valid
for 60
days
and
proves
that
the
original
is
with
the
traffic
police.
This
can be
extended
if
necessary.

Where
to go: Your
nearest
'Jefatura
Provincial
de
Tráfico'.

The
Law
changes
on
foreign
EU
driving
licences
(at
last):

On
September
9th,
2004,
the
Law in
Spain
was
effectively
changed
as the
result
of a
decision
handed
down
by the
European
Court
of
Justice
(it
has
still
to be
written
in the
Statute
Book)
as
follows:
-

Was -
foreign
EU
licences
had to
be
changed
for
Spanish
ones
if you
took
out
residencia
(or
legally
work
for a
company
here),
and
drove
a
Spanish
registered
(plated)
car,
or the
licence
had to
be
registered
if you
stayed
over
three
months
or
bought
a
Spanish
plated
car,
but
did
not
live
here.
Spain
was, in
fact,
in
contravention
of the
EU
Directive
on
this
subject.

New
Effective
Law
from
9th
September
2004:
-

Please
note
that
the
Law
has
yet to
be
amended
in
Spain,
but
the
judgement
handed
down
means
that
it is
virtually
effective
now,
as any
fines
would
be
pointless.
I have
no
news
of an
appeal,
which,
in my
opinion,
would
be
pointless.
Please
read
on.....

Your
EU
foreign
licence,
the
one
with
the
ring
of
stars
on the
front
and,
for
the
UK, is
of a
credit/bank
card
size,
but
for
all EU
countries,
it can
be the
folded
card
as
still
at
this
time
used
in
Spain,
is
legal
to use
in
Spain
(or
anywhere
in the
EU)
whether
you
are a
visitor or
live
here
as
your
principal
place
of
residence
(taken
out
residencia).
However,
you
have
to
comply
with
the
Laws
in
Spain
where
the
licence
will
expire
according
to
Spanish
Laws
as
detailed
are in
my
book,
Motoring
in
Spain,
Part 6
- 4.
The
older
pre-EU
type
licences
must
still
be
changed
for a Spanish
one or
an EU
one
from
your
home
country,
if
this
is
still
possible.
The
card
has
been
available
in the
UK for
some
time.
In
Spain,
it is
expected
that
they
will
be
issued
from
2005.

If you
are
stopped
by an
official
who
attempts
to
issue
you
with a
denuncia
in
connection
with
this
subject,
you
may
quote,
" Case
C-195/02
of the
European
Court
of
Justice,
decision
9th
September
2004".
In
Spanish:
-

Many
drivers
have
been
issued
with
denuncias
and
heavy
fines
as
high
as
450
euros since
the
date
of the
case
decision
which
effectively
negates
the
existing
Law
from
the
9th
September,
and
these
people
are
advised
to
return
their
denuncia
forms
to the
Traficos
in
each
region,
and
you
will
(eventually) be
reimbursed
with
the
cash
and
the
denuncia
record
will
be
expunged.
If you
have a
problem
with
this,
please
advise
your
nearest
British
Consular
office.
All
the
fines
and
denuncias
prior
to the
9th
September
still
stand.
Sorry
folks.

PROOF
OF
ADDRESS

The
problem
of
your
driving
licence
not
having
the
correct
local
address
on it
has
yet to
be
settled,
and we
will
hopefully
know
all
the
answers
when
the
Spanish
Law
book
is
changed
on
this
matter.
In the
UK,
the
driver
is
expected
to
have
the
form
D740
that
is
sent
with
the card
licence
ready
to
"produce
when
required".
It may
be
that
foreign
licence
holders
will
have
to
register
their
licences
if
Spain
is
their
home,
and
carry
a
similar
form
with
them
in the
car.
They
could
carry
a D740
as
there
is
space
for a
change
of
address
on it.
We
will
have
to
wait
and
see.
The
form
D740
also has
details
of any
endorsements
on it
as
well,
so the
local
officials
will
see
these,
if
any.

You
may
wish
to see
the
letter
advising
the
sentence.
It may
also
be
advisable
to
carry
a copy
with
you in
case
you
get
stopped
before
the
official
Law is
updated
in
Spain.
You
can
see
and
copy
the
letter
by clicking
here.

The
above,
expanded
and
much
more,
is
contained
in the
book, MOTORING
IN
SPAIN,
by Brian
J
Deller.
Written
in
English
and
published
in
April
2004,
the
book
has
144
pages
with
information
for
visitors
as
well
as
anyone
who
lives
in
Spain.
Included
are
the
road
signs
in
Spain
(there
are
about
4
times
as
many
as the
UK),
and
translations
for
use at
the
road
side
or
when visiting
the
garage,
as
well
as
much
general
info
to
make
your
visit
or new
motoring
life
in
Spain
safer
and
less
stressful.
It is
supported
by a
web
site
to
update
it.
The
book, ISBN
No. 84
607
96175
is
available
from
most
English
book
shops
in
Spain
on the
Costas,
or
from
major
book
shops
in the
UK,
including
such
as Amazon.co.uk,
and
through idealspain.com.
It is
priced
at
€14,95
or
₤9,95.